Workers ‘should defend employment law rights with legal action’

Posted 20/11/2009

An advisory group has called on workers to seek the counsel of solicitors if they feel that their rights under employment law are being compromised during the recession.

The Employment Law Advisory Service (ELAS) has stated that taking legal advice is the best course of action for those who feel their bosses are enforcing illegal working practices in order to cut costs.

This advice was prompted by recent research from insolvency trade body R3, which suggested that workers are now more willing to accept pay freezes and unpaid overtime to help their employer stay afloat.

However, ELAS suggested that this may be prompting some companies to take advantage of workers by paying them as little as possible, even if that means falling below the minimum wage.

Leon Teasdale, spokesperson for ELAS, advised anyone being exploited in this way to take advice from their lawyers.

He added: “First of all put it into writing to the employer, make them aware and then follow the company’s grievance policy.”